47 Ronin featuring Keanu Reeves must be one of the best films I have seen in a long time.

The story of a young boy who grows up within a Samurai environment as an outcast, always shunned and bullied and how he is welcomed in to the Samurai group after their Lord has been unjustly killed to revenge their Lord and rescue his daughter. Based in Japan and on Japanese lore this is a fascinating story, well written and well acted upon. Every part could have been made especially for each and every actor; they seemed to fit so easily together. There seemed to be no forced emotion, all natural, which carries you along with the story. Excellent directing and work all around.

There is something for everyone in this film, with lots of action, the love story, good versus evil, and witches and demons. I would most definitely recommend this film.

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When I was young I had two dreams one was going with the nationalistic view of a free and independent Scotland, the other, was of a world living and working together for the greater good of all. How can this be, you might ask, one is a dream of separation the other is of unity? Well one is borne from years of West of Scotland protestant and nationalistic indoctrination (father side of the family) the other is from, in part, a mother who’s family (Roman Catholic) had just migrated from an Ireland that was split through sectarianism looking for a life where people worked, lived and tolerated one another’s differences.

I have found the time of the Scottish Referendum an extremely difficult time, torn between the two dreams, the nationalist and the union, but in the end a decision had to be made. One dream has been put on a back burner, so to speak, due to the majority making a democratic decision and staying with the United Kingdom. So, it is time to move on and see if there is a way of at least partially realising the other.

It is now time for the Scots to put aside their differences and look forward to what I hope could be a promising future. If we really want to move on and create a Scotland where everyone matters, then we have to stop looking backwards and start looking forwards. What do we have and how can we improve on that? Stop looking to the glories of past centuries and start thinking and making future glories, we started with having a democratic referendum (unfortunately some of that has lost it’s greatness because of the recent troubles, hopefully we can rise above this) and a choice was made, not to everyone’s liking but that is how it works in a democracy, deal with it and move on, the quicker we do this the better it will be for all concerned.

Do not let the momentum slow, we need to get in there and fight for proportional equality in all things.

At this point I am going to let the words of a great man who had an amazing dream, Martin Luther King Jr. do the talking, I have amended to be more relevant to Scotland and the UK, although this could be equally relevant to any of the 4 countries as individuals within this nation.

(Martin Luther King Jr. I Have a Dream speech, given 28th August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.) 1

“I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.”

We remind Westminster and the Scottish Government of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off, or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of justice.Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand to the solid rock of brotherhood.Now is the time to make justice a reality for all.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. September 2014 is not an end for Scotland or the UK but a beginning. And those who hope that the Scottish needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquillity in the UK until the governments of the United Kingdom settle their differences and work towards a brighter future for all. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to all, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for equality by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvellous new militancy which has engulfed the Scottish community must not lead us to a distrust of all politicians, for many have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.

We cannot be satisfied as long as any given country within the UK is as a smaller town to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by poorer conditions than in other areas.

I am not unmindful that some of you read this out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from food banks, and some of you have come from areas where your quest — quest for a life rather than mere survival has left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by cruel reforms. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to your homes in the poorer and not so poor areas of our cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the fact that we all want a good life, a life where our children and their children can live without suffering.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of what the United Kingdom should stand for, equality and safety for all.

I have a dream that one day in Scotland, our sons and daughters will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day our United Kingdom will be transformed into an oasis of justice.

I have a dream that our children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

That we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood, we will be able to work together, to struggle together, and to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will succeed one day.”

The OEKSFC Birthday Project 2013 honors Actor/Producer/Author Kevin Sorbo’s upcoming birthday on September 24, by accepting donations to benefit Sorbo’s Los Angeles-based nonprofit, A World Fit For Kids! (WFIT). Please note that the new contribution deadline is Saturday, October 5, 2013.

From now until October 5, 2013, Mamaki of Hawaii, Inc., will give a 10% discount on all orders placed using the codeword “Sorbo” when checking out. Free shipping will apply for U.S. orders over $75.00 and International orders over $125.00. Mamaki of Hawaii, Inc., will then donate 20% of the cost of each Mama-Kii Tea tin purchased using the codeword “Sorbo” to the OEKSFC Birthday Project 2013…

I read two things this week that made me decide to write about the role of religion in horror. Firstly, my idol Gabriel Byrne said that he thought the Catholic Church was evil. Secondly, parks have a calming effect on the mind, apparently! What have these got to do with one another?

Well, although I’m pagan I have to both agree and disagree with Gabriel. Religion, like every entity, has a good and a bad side. Both positive and negative psychology exists in most religions. Many people have horrific or depressing experiences within the confines of a place of worship or due to the beliefs held, but just as many have hugely fulfilling life-long relationships with their God(s); despite my lack of Christian belief, I never fail to feel spiritually at peace in beautiful big Italian churches. They are designed that way deliberately, to give you a sense…

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We, as archaeologists, try not to use our modern-day beliefs and customs to interpret the past as their beliefs and customs and language were different. While I agree with Dave re racism I’m not quite convinced by some of his arguments, for example in the language used by Petrie. Is this not a case of using modern-day beliefs and customs, language in interpreting a time when ‘racism’ was only just being recognised as such?

For example –

1. Barbarian – When the ancient Greeks refer to barbarians (barbaroi) they are talking more about language – the unintelligible speech of foreigners. By the time we get to Latin (barbari) the meaning has changed slightly to barbarous country, uncivilised.

2. Gay – Not so long ago, mid – late 20th century gay had a meaning more along the lines of happy. Now, late 20th early 21st century that meaning has taken on a new meaning – non-heterosexual humans.

3. Getting away from language examples. There was a display of our National poet Robert Burns in the Kelvingrove museum a few years ago, I think within the last 5 years, let’s be honest by modern standards he was no great catch, but by the standards of his time he was just that. I read a few of the comments left by visitors (using their modern-day standards to interpret), a lot of whom were women, needless to say they were not impressed by the alcoholism or the womanising.

It is easy to slip in to judging the past by todays standards, what we have to remember is the people who lived back then, even 50 – 100 years ago, were not living by the same standards, they had different languages, different cultures, different beliefs and their knowledge of life/cultures and how we should treat one another was also different and normal by their standards.

We today might not think that these standards should have been correct but we only know that from learning from their mistakes.

You suffered three strokes at the age of 38. Were there any warning signs that something was wrong? If so, what did you think they could mean?

I had tingling and loss of feeling in my fingers and hand, my fingers turned cold and eventually blue, and I had pain shooting down my arm. It came and went, gradually getting worse as time went by. But I was doing a heavy promotional tour for Kull, the Conqueror at the time they started getting really annoying, so I consulted with doctors at the…

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A discussion on Facebook re one of Kevin Sorbo’s new releases, Julia X prompted me to look more closely at the films I choose to watch. My usual type of films fall under science fiction/fantasy, adventure, supernatural, action, musicals and westerns, I think that just about covers it.

A few of the ladies were commenting that horror type films are not their norm but they watched/will watch this one because Kevin Sorbo is in it. Well that got me to thinking, although horror is not my favourite, I will be more likely to watch a horror film than a ‘chick flick’. In saying that however, like those ladies commenting on Julia X, I have been known to watch some films that would not be my norm just because Kevin Sorbo is in the film.

Films like Last Chance Cafe, Soul Surfer and What If would have been films that I would have given a miss if it was not for the fact that they all featured Kevin Sorbo, and I have to admit I have watched all of them more than once, not only because of Kevin but because the story lines have been excellent, all the cast have performed well and the films have all been extremely enjoyable.

Kevin Sorbo is a great actor; he does not take his celebrity status for granted making as much time as he can for his fans, which, I think, encourages them all to watch films/programmes that they would not normally watch. This has to say a lot for the personality of Kevin and his talent, not to mention his hard work, and what seems like never ending energy.

I have not, as yet been able to watch Julia X but I look forward to watching this film as much as any other film that Kevin has featured in.

I think it is time people in the UK stood up for what is right and held the polititians accountable for what they are doing to our National Insurance. Any other insurance company would be held accountable for, at the very least, mismanagement.

ME:

Who out there thinks National Insurance is just another word for tax???
If you do, you’re wrong.
National Insurance, according to the 1946 Act, provided for compulsory contributions for unemployment, sickness, maternity and widows’ benefits and old age pensions from employers and employees, with the government funding the balance.
There is a National Insurance Act 1965 which consolodates with the 1946 Act – note the operative words INSURED PERSONS!!!!!!
I have contacted my MP and 10 Downing St to find out where our National Insurance contributions are going, my MP’s response was we don’t know Westiminster just give us a lump sum – well MP FIND OUT!!!!!!. By the way this is a SNP MP. No. 10 have yet to respond after more than 6months. It was an article I read a while ago, unfortunately I’ve lost it but will keep looking, that peaked my interest. In this article it stated that in 2010 over £53 billion was collected in National Insurance, my question is where did that £53billion go?????
If the government was a private insurance company they would have to tell us where our money was going and how it was being invested, this government seems to think that this doesn’t apply to them. If this was a private insurance company and the funds being paid into the insurance pot were not going where they should and were being diverted elsewhere then there would be an investigation/trial with charges of fraud/embezzlement.
I think this government, and previous governments rely on the majority of the people thinking that NI is just another tax which can be lumped with everything else – WRONG!!!!! No wonder our health and benefit system is in the state it is in.
It’s time for the people to stand up and say NO this is our retirement and our health insurance you are playing with and we want it back!!!!!!!
Ok, rant over :-)

MD:

If I can remember my Social Policy correctly, the NI scheme, when it was originally set up was to run for a while before money was taken out. However, pensions and other benefits and the health service were taking funds out from day one. So our contributions are not being saved, but are being spent! Unemployment benefits were never intended to be paid out indefinitely either, they were supposed to be emergency payments used over a short term till people found work; and as we know government are in the main to blame for lack of employment, but also some folk are too lazy to work. Also, there were several generations where, and I hate to say it, but women sat at home bringing up children, their husbands paid a few shillings in NI on their behalf – but that doesnt really cover their use of NHS to have those babies or the NHS services they have used over the years, or their pensions. Also we allow foreign nationals access to funds, and the NHS without expecting them to have contributed. Hospitals near large airports used to see a lot of women coming here in their last month of pregnancy come here to have their babies for free. It sounds mean to say it but if we were to go abroad we have to pay for any emergency treatment. And we would not have access to public funds….Moan over….However, your right to pursue our MPs as they seem to think our money is theirs.

ME:

It would seem that it has been mis-used since day one. Time to sort it out properly I think, for instance you don’t get to use it unless you pay NI. Where would the private insurance companies be if they allowed anyone to claim regardless of whether they paid insurance contributions or not?

Long term unemployed do pay a minimal amount of NI, I know this because I have had to have two long term sickness periods due to arthritis/thyroid condition and I paid NI direct from my benefit. I only discovered this by accident as they don’t tell you this.

Also, I think people forget or don’t realise that an E111 gives them the right to basic health care within the EU, another use for our NI.

AD:

Very good points! I said something similar a few months back. We are basically medically insured. The government should have to answer where our NI payments are going – and your MSP’s answer is simply not good enough. You should complain or speak with someone else. I think you’d make an excellent politician, by the way! :-D You could whip them all into shape!

ME:

Oh, I forgot to point out that the benefits mentioned do not include child benefit only maternity benefit – not the same thing. I’m assuming then that child benefit is included in the many things we are taxed for. Is it quicker these days to list the things we don’t get taxed for???

AD – Lol, politians are too intersted in power and lining their own pockets, I wouldn’t last a day :-)

AD:

Not all of them. Some of them are there to stand up for justice, and the rights of the ordinary people. More people like you in Parliament wouldn’t be a bad thing

ME:

What we need is more people to actually take an interest and differentiate between tax and NI, and make the government & polititians accountable for the mismanagement of our insurance.

AD:

You should write an article on that

ME:

I’d need a lot more information and someone who understood lawyer speak to break down the gobbledegook. I think that is part of the problem, make things sound as complicated as possible and people will just go along as it is too difficult to investigate.

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This is something I posted on Facebook in March 2012 and then forgot about. I hope you enjoy :-)

I’ve taken this list from one of those posts that says if you agree re-post type things, which I usually don’t because I don’t like conditions put on things, I either re-post/share because I agree/like or I don’t, I don’t need to have the condition tagged on at the end of a post.

Anyway, I have taken the following ten points from the post and below that are my comments re things I have learned about each of those points over the years :-)

I was raised to –

Speak when I enter a room

Say please and thank you

To have respect for my elders

To get up off my lazy butt and let the elder in the room have my chair

Say yes sir and no sir

Lend a helping hand to those in need

Hold the door for the person behind me, not let it slam in their face.

Say excuse me when it’s needed

To love people for who they are, not for what I can get from them

To treat people the way I want to be treated

Things I have learned over the years –

It is not always necessary to speak when I enter a room

I still always say please and thank you, you get such a better response from people even if you are complaining about something.

Elders should earn respect as much as their younger counterparts, respect is not a god given right

I will still get up off my lazy butt to give some-one who is not as well and able as I a seat whether it is in a room or elsewhere (public transport)

I’ve never said yes sir or no sir (except to my teachers at school, which was required) but I usually say yes please or no thank you.

As far as possible I will lend a helping hand however, that helping hand might not always be welcome so I always ask if help is required first.

I always check behind me when going through a door to ensure it is not going to slam in some-one’s face. Lesson I have learned is to try not to shout after the bad mannered idiot in front of me, who has slammed the door in my face, ‘thanks very much, always wanted a flat nose’ to prevent me getting a fist in the face :-) (brother’s advice lol)

I always say excuse me (I’ve even managed it in Greek and French :-))

I always try to love people for who they are. There’s nothing worse than some-one saying I love you but, could you just change this or that or do you by any chance have (time to) with no reciprocation.

I always try to treat people the way I would like to be treated, but I am only human and this sometimes does not happen :-(

So after all that, I think the message should be, be yourself but try to consider others when doing so, so that you don’t come across as a selfish, self centred, bad mannered sod.

It’s that time of year again – time for Kevin’s Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament benefiting the Los Angeles-based nonprofit children and youth organization, A World Fit For Kids! (WFIT).

And for the second consecutive year the Kevin Sorbo Golf Tournament Fan Sponsorship proudly teams with his awesome Official European Kevin Sorbo Fan Club (OEKSFC) Birthday Project to raise funds for his tournament and WFIT. Cool!

Unfortunately, Kevin’s 4th year tournament (2012) is postponed until the spring of next year, 2013, due to unforeseen circumstances. Bummer…

The good news is that the amazing OEKSFC will accept donations for the Sponsorship/Birthday Project until September 15, 2012, in order to hopefully present Kevin with his birthday gift at Madrid’s Interstar Convention in October. The annual free online Birthday Book, designed by talented OEKSFC web mistress, Anne, at which you can post your well wishes to Kevin, remains open until September 15, too!…

Please read the Sam Sorbo article first, link at the top of the page, thanks.

As a child I remember girls had to be pretty and seen but not heard. I was forced to wear pretty dresses and hats (particularly at Easter) when all I wanted was jeans and t-shirts. It did not help that the two villages we lived in, as a family, were predominantly male orientated, including the children, so most of my friends were boys.

To be seen and not heard was extremely frustrating for me as I had an opinion about everything, I still do. There was no encouragement when it came to intelligence, of any sort. It was my duty to learn how to cook, sew, knit, clean, keep house and family and learn music, play piano to be exact. The playing of the piano I did not mind, in fact I enjoyed it, and the cooking was okay, but the rest I found was not to my liking at all, I preferred climbing trees and riding bicycles. I felt as though I was meant for something else.

It was during my second to last year in primary school (primary 6); I would have just turned 10 years of age, that I had the opportunity to fight with teachers to do something other than knitting. I fought for the chance to try woodwork, it was not anything major but it was a change. By the end of the classes I had modelled a couple of things out of blocks of wood including a car, which I was very proud of. At this point in my life I had also started to learn violin and was singing, music was something I could do which was not primarily male or female orientated and something that I really enjoyed. I also took part in my first school play as Smee, Captain Hook’s little fat pirate companion in Peter Pan (this was amusing as I was still the smallest person in school and had not a pick on me), I got to sword fight and wear trousers, score for me. This was lots of fun but also required some hard work, something I have never had a problem with. For younger readers please bear in mind this was in 1972 when there were still very clearly defined lines about what women/ladies/girls should and should not be doing, not to mention a strict Roman Catholic school.

I had always been a great reader, one of the things I was encouraged to do, by the age of eight I had read books such as A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, note the type of book I was encouraged to read, Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters mostly. So by the time I got to primary seven aged 11 it was no great surprise that my spelling was somewhat ahead of the rest of the class (winning class spelling competitions with words like antidisestablishmentarianism) and my maths/arithmetic was not too shabby either. Again, I took part in the school show, this time it was a concert and I did a little song and dance routine, it was supposed to be with a friend but she developed stage fright, so I was on my own.

When I reached my first year at high school, aged 12, I was a lot quieter than before. A lot had been happening at home since my mother died (aged 10) and I had a lot of the more out going fight knocked out of me, literally. I might have been a lot quieter and subdued but there was still fire there. I always seemed to be the smallest at school and invariably the occasional bully would try what they did best. In primary they were a lot easier to deal with as the primary school serviced only a couple of surrounding villages and my reputation got around, I really dislike bullies. In high school however the school was much bigger and it was impossible to know everyone, so there were a few times where I had to deal with bullies, one good thing I was taught, never ever back down from a bully, they might beat the crap out of you once but they lose all credibility and rarely have another physical go at you, and the tom-boy thing came in handy too.

In high school I continued with my violin lessons until about half way through my first year some young yobs beat the teacher up and he never came back. So now there was no more piano and no more violin, still I got music lessons once a week as part of the curriculum, that was something. I was never a great sports person, having been diagnosed with arthritis at an early age, always found sports painful, I liked gymnastics as I was very flexible and enjoyed the various bits and pieces we got to do in those classes, also enjoyed basketball to a certain extent, I was always left at the basket, I might have been small and much slower than the rest but I was very good at scoring points.

It was in my first year of high school that I discovered science, boy was that ever confusing. Up until that point I had attended a Roman Catholic primary school and had been taught that we came from Adam and Eve, no science taught at all. Imagine my confusion when science was telling me about evolution. This explained a lot, once I got used to the idea, for various reasons I will not go in to in this paper. It was also at this point that I discovered that I had an aptitude for English and French I also discovered what support and encouragement felt like as I had excellent teachers in both subjects. Unfortunately, this was not to continue and by my third and fourth years at high school I had mediocre teachers with little interest and my interest dwindled as well.

By the time I had completed my second year at high school I had been in two foster homes, by third year I was in a children’s home, not from anything I had done I might add. Things were not going well. I had become extremely quiet, except when I felt strongly about something, I would still not be bullied into doing anything I did not want to. I had lost interest in school and most other things although I spent a lot of time reading and found a new outlet in TV and film. With the exception of my first year in high school, taking part in the end of year concert and singing along to songs on the radio, I had also given up on the musical/theatrical side of things until my fourth year; I was about 16 by this point. I decided to take part in the schools adaptation of West Side Story, the music was brilliant, I so enjoyed this, I took part in the play the following year also, this was my last year at school, not through choice.

At seventeen I left school with a minimum of qualifications, Mathematics, Arithmetic, English and Biology. What to do now? I had to find a job and somewhere to live. At this point I should also mention that children who had spent time in the care system are constantly told that the majority end up in trouble with the law, single parents, alcoholics, drug addicts, you get the picture. I’ve never been one to conform to what is expected of me. By the time I had left school I had applied to various hospitals for training as a nurse, I think having watched my mother die had something to do with this choice. I had also applied for a job in a village near Edinburgh as a nanny. It was interviews galore time. I had an interview for the nanny position and got the job and of course it meant I had somewhere to stay, I also had various interviews for nursing training. I lasted 3 weeks as a nanny; I discovered very early that I cannot abide spoiled children or their parents. Parents, you do not do your children or yourselves any favours by spoiling them. By this point I had been accepted to three nursing training hospitals one of which was Yorkhill children’s hospital in Glasgow, I had had enough of children by this point so I had to choose between Stobhill and Vale of Leven, I chose Stobhill, the nursing home was in the grounds and I had a room there. Great, training, a job, and somewhere to live all within 6 weeks of leaving school, and all done by myself, my self- esteem rose slightly.

You might be thinking at this point that I am going way off the subject, what has any of this got to do with the article Sam Sorbo has written, please bear with me, all will become clear.

I completed my nursing training and worked in Stobhill for a couple of years in the oncology unit, I did enjoy it at the time, however I became ill and had to stop work for a couple of years. When I was well enough to go back to work I did so as an agency nurse, going to whichever hospital/department was short staffed, it was at this point I realised this was not what I wanted to do. I went to college and took a course in secretarial and accounts, got bored and moved on to a distance learning course in computer programming again I got bored, although I was doing well in both courses they just did not do anything to peak my interest. I moved on to an Open University course in earth sciences, this was more interesting but still not interesting enough for me to continue. I then did a course in secretarial and business administration. Meantime over the years I had been working at various different jobs, searching for something to do that was not only interesting but something that I enjoyed.

During this time of unrest and illness I had joined an amateur dramatic group known as EROS (East Renfrewshire Operatic Society) and performed in a number of shows over a five or six year period, this was what helped to settle me down a bit. I had moved from job to job and from home to home always restless and always searching. As a young, quiet and very small female I found that male bosses had a tendency to try to bully me in to doing extra hours etc. They soon found out that I might be quiet, on the whole, and I might be small, but I am far from stupid, nor am I a door mat.

My personal relationships seem to have gone the same way, unfortunately. My first adult relationship was with a hospital porter, we got engaged, that was the thing to do, big mistake from that moment on, especially when I became ill, I became an ornament. As I was not working I had no money coming in, could not go out to visit, I could not even go to the shop. I could not do housework, not that that was my favourite past time, as everything I did was wrong. It got to the point where he was out a lot; I was at home alone a lot, bored. Things came to a head when in the heat of the moment he knocked me over and left me breathless, he panicked more than I did. A few days later I packed a suitcase and left with no money and no where to live leaving all my other possessions behind. I moved in with my youngest sister for a few months then found a job with a room. Unfortunately when I left that job for another I also lost the accommodation and became homeless for four months until I got placed in a flat (apartment) which was not exactly in the best area of Glasgow (it’s what they do when you are young, single and homeless). By this point I am in my mid to late twenties. My other relationships have been unsuccessful also, one of which thought it was clever to live with me while giving all his earnings to his mother who had three other working adult children living with her, he would come home put on the computer and play games, oh joy. He was not happy when I decided it was time for him to leave. There have been a couple more like that; I think I must have mug or door-mat tattooed on my forehead.

Things looked up a little in my thirties and by the time I reached forty I decided that it was time I did something with my life, by this point I had been in an administration job for about six years and extremely bored. To relieve the boredom I decided to do a course at Glasgow University evening school. What subjects to choose, this was a problem. Eventually a couple of things influenced my decision, I remembered that I had enjoyed Classical Studies in high school and would have continued with that line of study if it had not only been available in my first year, also I had been watching a programme, Hercules featuring Kevin Sorbo which I was enjoying. First subject chosen, Classical Civilisation, now what to do with this, two subjects were required? After much thought and consideration I decided on Social Anthropology. I did so well in both subjects that I was urged to use this as an access course in to university. I applied and was accepted. Wow, wait a minute, does that mean I am intelligent after-all? In 2002 I started my undergraduate degree and worked two part time jobs. In 2006 at the age of forty-four I graduated with a joint degree in Archaeology and Classics. Unfortunately, in my second year of this degree I was diagnosed with a few medical problems which really caused me a lot of hassle, particularly when it came to concentration. I was advised to give up on studying but I do not give up easily and continued. As a result I could not continue with a post graduate degree and had to take some time out, again taking a couple of years off sick, although I did continue to work part-time, at the time it was called allowed work. In December 2009 at the age of forty seven I graduated with a post graduate degree in Mediterranean Archaeology, that was a lot of hard work and I would not recommend working full time and studying full time to anyone, I was on beta-blockers for six months after that, but achievement.

Since then I have had a full time job working in administration again, not exactly what I had in mind but in this current economic climate where jobs are scarce I am lucky to have a job at all. I do get extremely bored though and I am always looking for new things to learn.

Through all this I have learned that there is nothing wrong with being a tom-boy, there is also nothing wrong with being a woman.

Unlike Sam I have not had the joy or luck of finding the person with whom I would be willing to share my life or give up my career (what there is of it) for. So it has taken me quite a while longer to realise that there is more to equality than being able to do the same things as men. I agree, men are different, they think differently and they do things differently. They are able to do some things better than women, regardless of how much we protest, just as women are better at doing some things than men. We will never be the same, unless there is some extremely freak change in evolution. We should rejoice in that and work together as a team not opposing each other, we might actually move forward a lot quicker.

I still wear jeans and t-shirts a lot, and have the occassional urge to climb a tree, I do not think I will ever totally get rid of the tom-boy thing, it is a part of who I am, but I also, on occasion, like to put on a dress and try to look pretty. I have incorporated into my daily life things like having nails manicured and visiting the hair stylist more often, and I even occasionally pull out all stops and wear make-up. I like when a man opens a door and stands back for me to go through first, I like when a chair is placed for me when sitting down at a table. After all the rebellion as a younger person, I have come to realise what my mother was trying to teach me before she died. The relationship between men and women is about balance. There is much more to being a successful woman than equalling men in all avenues. We do equal men in that we are the balance they require in what they do and think and vice versa. Being a woman is also about doing what you think is right and not being afraid to do what is best for you, whether it conforms to the majority or not.

If you would like more information on the topic of my childhood, what it was like taking care of myself and siblings from the age of ten and dealing with abuse, check back here periodically.